U.S. patent number 8,190,576 [Application Number 12/092,702] was granted by the patent office on 2012-05-29 for file recording device and imaging device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Panasonic Corporation. Invention is credited to Kenji Maeda, Shigeo Sakaue, Takehito Yamaguchi.
United States Patent |
8,190,576 |
Yamaguchi , et al. |
May 29, 2012 |
File recording device and imaging device
Abstract
A file recording device includes a control unit (101) that
controls a batch copy process which copies collectively a plurality
of files stored in a first recording medium (300) from the first
recording medium (300) to a second recording medium (106). When a
batch copy process is completed, the control unit (101) records
copy date and time identification information for identifying copy
completion date and time to the first recording medium. The control
unit (101) performs the control so as to compare the batch copy
completion date and time indicated by the copy date and time
identification information with recording date and time information
on files stored in the first recording medium, to identify a file
recorded in the first recording medium (300) later than the date
and time on which the batch copy is performed, and then to copy the
identified file to the second recording medium (106).
Inventors: |
Yamaguchi; Takehito (Osaka,
JP), Maeda; Kenji (Osaka, JP), Sakaue;
Shigeo (Osaka, JP) |
Assignee: |
Panasonic Corporation (Osaka,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
38005682 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/092,702 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2006 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 26, 2006 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2006/321398 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
May 05, 2008 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2007/052531 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 10, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20090119350 A1 |
May 7, 2009 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Nov 4, 2005 [JP] |
|
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2005-320400 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
707/653;
348/231.9; 707/638; 707/824; 707/758 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
5/772 (20130101); G11B 27/105 (20130101); G11B
27/326 (20130101); H04N 9/8047 (20130101); H04N
9/8205 (20130101); H04N 5/85 (20130101); H04N
5/765 (20130101); H04N 5/781 (20130101); H04N
5/907 (20130101); H04N 5/775 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
17/30 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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58-51392 |
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Mar 1983 |
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JP |
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4-324565 |
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Nov 1992 |
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JP |
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9-198283 |
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Jul 1997 |
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JP |
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2000-152209 |
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May 2000 |
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JP |
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2001-69296 |
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Mar 2001 |
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JP |
|
2002-203231 |
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Jul 2002 |
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JP |
|
2004-297158 |
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Oct 2004 |
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JP |
|
2004-341630 |
|
Dec 2004 |
|
JP |
|
2005-189969 |
|
Jul 2005 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
International Search Report issued Nov. 21, 2006 in International
(PCT) Application No. PCT/JP2006/321398. cited by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Le; Debbie
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack,
L.L.P.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A file recording device comprising: a medium access unit adapted
to load a removable first recording medium; a second recording
medium that stores a file; and a control unit that controls a batch
copy process which copies collectively a plurality of files stored
in the first recording medium from the first recording medium to
the second recording medium, wherein the first recording medium
stores, for each file, recording date and time information for
identifying recording date and time of the file, when the batch
copy process from the first recording medium to the second
recording medium is completed, the control unit records copy date
and time identification information for identifying completion date
and time of the batch copy process to the first recording medium,
the copy date and time identification information being one piece
of information provided for the plurality of files copied in the
batch copy process and provided independently of the files stored
in the first recording medium, and the control unit further
controls the batch copy process so as to compare the completion
date and time of the batch copy process indicated by the copy date
and time identification information with recording date and time
information on files stored in the first recording medium, to
identify a file which is recorded in the first recording medium
later than the date and time on which the batch copy is performed,
and to copy the identified file from the first recording medium to
the second recording medium.
2. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit controls the batch copy process so as to copy all
files stored in the first recording medium from the first recording
medium to the second recording medium when the copy date and time
identification information is not recorded in the first recording
medium.
3. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein the
first recording medium is accessible by a plurality of file
recording devices, the control unit records the copy date and time
identification information to the first recording medium, while
relating the copy date and time identification information to the
file recording device that includes the control unit, and the
control unit: identifies copy date and time identification
information related to the file recording device, with information
unique to the file recording device that includes the control unit,
and controls the batch copy process from the first recording medium
to the second recording medium based on the identified copy date
and time identification information.
4. The file recording device according to claim 3, wherein the
information unique to the file recording device is a manufacturing
number of the file recording device.
5. The file recording device according to claim 3 further
comprising a communication unit that is assigned a unique code
which is unique on a network, wherein the information unique to the
file recording device is the unique code assigned to the
communication unit or a code derived from the unique code.
6. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit treats all files stored in the first recording medium,
as target for copy from the first recording medium to the second
recording medium.
7. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit treats only files stored in a folder designated by a
user, as target for copy from the first recording medium to the
second recording medium.
8. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit treats only files that satisfy a condition designated
by a user, as target for copy from the first recording medium to
the second recording medium.
9. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein when the
first recording medium stores a plurality of pieces of the
recording date and time information, the control unit compares the
completion date and time of the batch copy process indicated by the
copy date and time identification information, with a latest one
among dates and times indicated by the plurality of pieces of the
recording date and time information.
10. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein the
control unit records, as the copy date and time identification
information, the latest date and time among dates and times
indicated by recording date and time information on all files
copied from the first recording medium to the second recording
medium, to the first recording medium.
11. The file recording device according to claim 1, wherein the
recording date and time information and the copy date and time
identification information include information by which
chronological relationship between date and time on which a file in
the first recording medium is recorded to the first recording
medium and date and time on which the batch copy is completed can
be identified.
12. An imaging device for recording an image file to a removable
first recording medium, comprising a controller that controls an
operation of the imaging device, wherein the first recording medium
stores recording date and time information indicating recording
date and time of a stored file for each file, and copy date and
time identification information for identifying date and time on
which a batch copy of a file or files from the first recording
medium to a second recording medium is completed, the copy date and
time identification information being one piece of information
provided for the plurality of files copied in the batch copy
process and provided independently of the files stored in the first
recording medium, and the controller performs control so as to
compare, in the first recording medium, date and time indicated by
the copy date and time identification information with recording
date and time information on a file in the first recording medium,
to determine whether the file is copied to the second recording
medium, and to store information indicating a result of the
determination to a predetermined storage area.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a file recording device that
copies files between recording media, for example, to a file
recording device that performs a batch copy of a plurality of image
files from a primary recording medium, such as a memory card, that
stores image files taken with a digital camera to a secondary
recording medium, such as a magnetic disk, built in the device.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to an imaging device
that records an image file in a recording medium.
BACKGROUND ART
Generally widespread digital cameras employs, as a recording medium
for images taken, a memory built in the cameras or a memory card
removable from the cameras. Various types of memory cards are
released and available.
Meanwhile, for a recording and playback device, such as a DVD
recorder, that records and plays back a broadcast program, a model
has been introduced that has a card slot for loading a memory card
and has functions of copying image files (including still image
files and moving image files) stored in the memory card to a mass
recording medium (for example, hard disk drive) in the device and
storing the image files, playing back the stored image files, and
displaying the image files on a screen of a television set
connected to the recording and playback device with a video signal
cable.
The introduction of the above-described recording and playback
device allows a user to easily play back and display the image
files on a big screen of a television set and enjoy it, as long as
the files shot with a digital camera are stored in the recording
and playback device.
In copying image files to the mass recording medium in the
above-described recording and playback device, it is generally done
by a user to provide a preview of image files which are copy
targets on a television screen, and select an image file(s) after
confirming images.
However, a selection operation by a preview display is performed by
a remote control operation of the recording and playback device,
and thus the selection operation is a quite burdensome operation
for the user, which is in turn a cause of preventing easy operation
for copy to the recording and playback device.
As a copy scheme for solving such a problem, a method of copying
all image files in a memory card to a mass recording medium of a
recording and playback device has been introduced (hereinafter,
referred to as the "medium batch copy scheme").
In the medium batch copy scheme, since the user does not need to
select an image file(s), a copy can be easily performed to the mass
recording medium of the recording and playback device. However, the
batch copy scheme has the following problem.
Specifically, after copying still image files or moving image files
recorded in the memory card to the mass recording medium of the
recording and playback device, if a batch copy is performed again
with the still image files and moving image files that have been
copied remaining without being deleted from the memory card, then
the still image files or the moving image files that have already
been copied are copied again and thus such still image files or
moving image files are stored in the mass recording medium
redundantly.
Here, with an increase in the storage capacity of the memory card,
the case in which image files remain in the memory card without
being deleted therefrom is increasing. Accordingly, in the batch
copy scheme, the number of image files to be stored redundantly is
increasing. The occurrence of duplicative storage not only
wastefully squeezes the storage capacity of the mass recording
medium of the recording and playback device but also causes a
plurality of the same files to be present on the same mass
recording medium, which becomes a big cause of a reduction in file
search efficiency upon playback.
Conventionally, in order to circumvent such inconveniences, various
techniques have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a
memory card that is used for receiving/sending image files from/to
a digital camera is assigned a unique medium ID code which is
assigned to each memory card and different in each memory card, and
the unique medium ID code together with a time stamp and a data
size are written in an image file as identification information.
Then, upon copy to the mass recording medium of the recording and
playback device, identity between image files on the recording and
playback device and image files in the memory card is judged using
the identification information, and then it is judged whether the
image files have been copied. For copied files, a copy is skipped,
and duplicative storage is prevented.
A copy as described above which is a batch copy of only image files
that have not been copied yet after determining whether image files
have already been copied to a copy destination device is
hereinafter referred to as a "differential copy".
In the above-described conventional case, before copying image
files stored in the memory card, identity check is made for all
image files between the mass recording medium of the recording and
playback device and the memory card to determine whether the image
files have not been copied yet. And only image files that are
determined to have not been copied yet are copied to and stored on
the mass recording medium, and thus duplicative storage can be
prevented. In addition, since a unique medium ID which is uniquely
assigned to each memory card is used in the identity check,
erroneously-determining and duplicative storage can be prevented
even in the case that a plurality of memory cards are used. Patent
Document 1: JP-A-2004-341630
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the Patent Document 1, a determination as to whether "image
files stored in a memory card" have not been copied is made by an
identity check with "all image files stored on a mass recording
medium, such as a hard disk drive, of a recording and playback
device".
Since the identity check is performed for each of the "image files
stored in a memory card", the number of times of identity checks is
maximum when there are no identical image files and the maximum
number of times of the checks is determined by the product of the
"number of image files stored in a memory card" and the "number of
image files stored on the hard disk drive". For example, when the
number of image files stored in the memory card is 100 and the
number of image files stored on the mass recording medium is 2000,
the number of times of identity checks is 200,000 (=100.times.200)
at a maximum. That is, the larger the number of image files stored
on the mass recording medium, the larger the number of times of
identity checks, causing a problem that it takes time to make a
determination.
In recent years, both memory cards and hard disk drives of
recording and playback devices have been increased in their
capacity and accordingly the number of image files that can be
stored in a recording medium has also been increased. In a
recording and playback device that does not have sufficient system
resources as compared with a personal computer, and so on, due to
an increase in the number of image files to be stored in a
recording medium, the uncopy determination by the identity check
process requires a considerable amount of time.
Moreover, in Patent Document 1, a unique medium ID needs to be
written in advance in a non-rewritable area of a memory card used
for a differential copy. Hence, not only the recording and playback
device to which image files are copied but also a device (e.g., a
digital camera) which records image files first to a memory card
needs to be equipped with a function of writing the unique medium
ID.
The present invention is directed to solve the above-described
problems and has an object to provide a file recording device
capable of easily and quickly performing a batch copy of image
files from one recording medium to another recording medium.
Means for Solving the Problems
A file recording device according to the present invention includes
a medium access unit adapted to load a removable first recording
medium, a second recording medium that stores a file, and a control
unit that controls a batch copy process which copies collectively a
plurality of files stored in the first recording medium from the
first recording medium to the second recording medium. The first
recording medium stores, for each file, recording date and time
information for identifying recording date and time of the file.
When the batch copy process from the first recording medium to the
second recording medium is completed, the control unit records copy
date and time identification information for identifying completion
date and time of the batch copy process to the first recording
medium. The control unit further controls the batch copy process so
as to compare the completion date and time of the batch copy
process indicated by the copy date and time identification
information with recording date and time information on files to be
stored in the first recording medium, to identify a file which is
recorded in the first recording medium later than the date and time
on which the batch copy is performed, and to copy the identified
file from the first recording medium to the second recording
medium.
The control unit may control the batch copy process so as to copy
all files stored in the first recording medium from the first
recording medium to the second recording medium, when the copy date
and time identification information is not recorded in the first
recording medium.
When the first recording medium can be accessed from a plurality of
file recording devices, the control unit may record the copy date
and time identification information to the first recording medium,
while relating the copy date and time identification information to
a file recording device including the control unit. The control
unit may identify copy date and time identification information
related to the file recording device, with information unique to
the file recording device including the control unit, and control
the batch copy process from the first recording medium to the
second recording medium based on the identified copy date and time
identification information.
The information unique to a file recording device may be a
manufacturing number of the file recording device. When the file
recording device includes a communication unit that is assigned a
unique code which is unique on a network is assigned, the
information unique to a file recording device may be the unique
code assigned to the communication unit or a code derived from the
unique code.
The control unit may treat all files stored in the first recording
medium, as target for copy from the first recording medium to the
second recording medium. Alternatively, the control unit may treat
only files stored in a folder designated by a user, as target for
copy from the first recording medium to the second recording
medium. Alternatively, the control unit may treat only files that
satisfy a condition designated by a user, as target for copy from
the first recording medium to the second recording medium.
Further when the first recording medium further stores a plurality
of pieces of the recording date and time information for each file,
the control unit may compare the completion date and time of the
batch copy process indicated by the copy date and time
identification information, with a latest one among dates and times
indicated by the plurality of pieces of the recording date and time
information.
The control unit may record, as the copy date and time
identification information, the latest date and time among dates
and times indicated by recording date and time information on all
files copied from the first recording medium to the second
recording medium, to the first recording medium.
The recording date and time information and the copy date and time
identification information may include information by which
chronological relationship between date and time on which a file in
the first recording medium is recorded to the first recording
medium and date and time on which the batch copy is completed can
be identified.
An imaging device according to the present invention is an imaging
device for recording an image file to a removable first recording
medium, and includes a controller that controls an operation of the
imaging device. The first recording medium stores recording date
and time information indicating recording date and time of a stored
file for each file, and copy date and time identification
information for identifying date and time on which a batch copy of
a file(s) from the first recording medium to a second recording
medium is completed. The controller performs control so as to
compare, in the first recording medium, date and time indicated by
the copy date and time identification information with recording
date and time information on a file in the first recording medium,
to determine whether the file is copied to the second recording
medium, and to store information indicating a result of the
determination to a predetermined storage area.
Effects of the Invention
The file recording device according to the present invention
records copy date and time identification information which
indicates completion date and time of a batch copy from the first
recording medium to the second recording medium, to the first
recording medium. By referring to the copy date and time
identification information, it does not need to match the files
stored in the first recording medium with the files stored in the
second recording medium one by one as in the conventional method in
order to determine whether a copy to the second recording medium is
done. By comparing the copy date and time identification
information with the recording date and time information on files,
files that has not been copied to the second recording medium can
be easily and quickly identified, achieving speed-up of a process
in the differential batch copy. Particularly, such speed-up of a
process in the differential batch copy, as obtained in the present
invention, is effective to a file recording device such as a DVD
recorder, since the throughput of the file recording device for
file management is not so high.
In addition, the imaging device according to the present invention
determines whether the files stored in the first recording medium
have been already backed up by referring to the copy date and time
identification information stored in the first recording medium,
and then stores information on the determination. By referring to
the information, it is possible to display information about
whether backup has been made on playback of images and to speed up
the process of deletion of backed-up image files.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system including a
file input device and a file recording device, according to the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the file input
device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of folders and
files in a recording medium.
FIG. 4 is a diagram describing a configuration of a FAT file system
including a plurality of directory items.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a format of a directory item which is
file management information.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a file
recording device of a first embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of folders/files in a
recording medium in which a batch differential copy management file
is disposed.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format of copy completion date and
time information in the batch differential copy management
file.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a medium batch differential copy process
performed by the file recording device.
FIGS. 10A to 10D are diagrams showing a transition state of the
batch differential copy management file and directory items in the
recording medium, along with the medium batch differential copy
process.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process of the file input device.
FIGS. 12A to 12C are diagrams showing exemplary displays of a
backup-is-done mark.
FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing a deletion menu for deleting
all or some of image files recorded in the recording medium.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a file
recording device of a second embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram describing a concept of a medium batch
differential copy performed by two file recording devices.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of folders and files
in a recording medium after a medium batch differential copy done
by one file recording device.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of folders and files
in the recording medium after a medium batch differential copy done
by another file recording device with the folder/file configuration
shown in FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a medium batch differential copy process
in the second embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a file
recording device of a third embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 20 is a diagram describing a concept of a medium batch
differential copy by two file recording devices in the second
embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a folder/file configuration after a
medium batch differential copy done in a recording medium by the
two file recording devices.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a file
recording device of a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 23 is a folder/file configuration before a folder batch
differential copy done by the file recording device of the fourth
embodiment.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a folder/file configuration after a
folder batch differential copy done by the file recording device of
the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart of an overall batch differential copy
process of the file recording device of the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a folder batch differential copy
process.
FIG. 27 is a diagram showing another example of the format of a
directory item which is file management information.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
50: FILE INPUT DEVICE 100, 120, 130, and 140: FILE RECORDING DEVICE
106: FILE STORAGE UNIT 122: DEVICE ID 132: MAC ADDRESS 300:
RECORDING MEDIUM 305a: IMAGE FILE 309: MEDIUM BATCH COPY MANAGEMENT
FILE 343: FOLDER BATCH COPY MANAGEMENT FILE 2001: DIRECTORY
ITEM
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with
reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
<System Configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a system including a file input
device and a file recording device, according to the present
invention.
The system includes a file input device 50, a recording medium 300,
and a file recording device 100. The file input device 50 is, for
example, a digital camera 50. The recording medium 300 is a
recording medium that can be inserted to and removed from the file
input device 50, and is a memory card such as an SD card or a flash
memory (registered trademark), for example. The file recording
device 100 is a device including a built-in recording medium and
having a function of allowing the recording medium 300 to be placed
therein to copy data stored in the recording medium 300 to the
built-in recording medium. The file recording device 100 is, for
example, a DVD recorder having an SD memory card slot and a
built-in hard disk.
The file input device 50 records image files to the recording
medium 300. Thereafter, when the recording medium 300 is inserted
into the file recording device 100, the image files stored in the
recording medium 300 are collectively copied to the recording
medium included in the file recording device 100.
Particularly, in the present embodiment, when files have been
collectively copied (medium batch copy) from the recording medium
300 to the file recording device 100, information indicating
completion date and time of the copy is stored in the recording
medium 300. Thereafter, when files are collectively copied from the
recording medium 300 to the file recording device 100, the
information indicating batch copy completion date and time which is
stored in the recording medium 300 is compared with time stamp
information (creation date and time or update date and time) on the
files which are copy targets to determine whether the copy target
files have already been recorded on the file recording device
100.
In the above-described determination, it is determined that a file
with a time stamp which is newer than the medium batch copy
completion date and time has not been copied to the file recording
device 100 yet. The above-described determination condition is
established under a condition where the file input device 50 that
writes a file to the recording medium 300 which is a copy source
only performs file creation and file deletion. A representative
example of such a file input device 100 is a digital camera. A
general digital camera has functions of storing taken image files
in the removable recording medium 300 such as an SD memory card,
and deleting the image file stored in the recording medium 300,
which is determined to be unnecessary by a user. However general
digital camera does not have a function of copying image files
between recording media. Therefore the above-described condition is
true.
<File Input Device>
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary configuration of the file input device 50
which is a digital camera. The file input device 50 includes a lens
11, a CCD 13 that converts optical information into an electrical
signal, an AD converter 15 that converts an analog image signal
obtained by the CCD 13 into a digital image signal, an image
processing unit 17 that processes the digital image signal, and a
buffer memory 19 that appropriately stores data upon processing by
the image processing unit 17. The file input device 50 also has a
controller 21 that controls the image processing unit 17, a liquid
crystal display (LCD) monitor 25, and an operation unit 23.
Furthermore, the file input device 50 has a card slot that loads a
recording medium 300 for reading/writing data from/to the recording
medium 300.
<Data Format>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of folders and
files in the recording medium 300. In a folder/file configuration
301 of the recording medium 300, an image file storage folder tree
306 is arranged under a ROOT folder 302 which is a top-level
folder. A top folder 303 is arranged under the image file storage
folder tree 306. Subfolders 304a and 304b are arranged under the
top folder 303. Image files 305a and 305b are arranged under the
subfolder 304a.
Note that in the present embodiment image file storage rules in the
folder/file configuration 301 comply with the DCF (Design rule for
Camera File System) standard and thus the folder names and
filenames of the top folder 303, the subfolders 304a and 304b, and
the image files 305a and 305b are named in compliance with the DCF
standard. The DCF standard defines that a still image file is
stored in a subfolder created under a DCIM folder, and thus, also
in the present embodiment, the image files 305a and 305b are stored
in the subfolders 304a and 304b.
In the present embodiment, the subfolders 304a and 304b to which
image files are recorded by a DCF-compliance digital camera are
folders provided for the medium batch differential copy. The folder
tree 306 is a folder tree including folders provided for the medium
batch differential copy.
The recording medium 300 of the present embodiment uses, as file
management information, a directory item in FAT16 file system or
FAT32 file system. As shown in FIG. 4, FAT information in the FAT16
file system or the FAT32 file system includes a plurality of
directory items 2001a, 2001b, 2001c . . . .
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a format of a directory item of the
FAT16 file system or the FAT32 file system. In the drawing, "BP" is
an abbreviation of Byte Position and indicates a byte offset
location. A directory item 2001 is provided for each file or each
folder. Specifically, when a file or folder is newly created in the
recording medium 300, a directory item corresponding to the file or
folder is created, and information on creating time of the file or
folder is written to a recording time field (BP23 to BP24) and a
recording date field (BP25 to BP26). In the present invention,
information stored in the recording time field and recording date
field in FAT information is used as a file attribute information
indicating file creating date and time.
<File Recording Device>
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the file
recording device 100 in the first embodiment of the present
invention. The file recording device 100 includes a control unit
101, a ROM 102, an EEPROM 103, a RAM 104, an operation unit 105, a
file storage unit 106, a medium access unit 107, an image playback
unit 108, a display I/F unit 109, and an internal bus 110.
Each of the control unit 101, the ROM 102, the EEPROM 103, the RAM
104, the operation unit 105, the file storage unit 106, the medium
access unit 107, and the image playback unit 108 is connected to
the internal bus 110. The control unit 101 is an MPU and reads out
a control program 111 from the ROM 102 and executes the control
program 111. When the control unit 101 requires a temporary work
area upon executing the control program 111, the control unit 101
appropriately reserves a work area in the RAM 104. In the EEPROM
103 are recorded configuration information on the file recording
device 100, etc., and the control unit 101 reads out such
information when required for execution of the control program
111.
The operation unit 105 is a control panel including a group of
buttons and a small-size liquid crystal display device, and also
has a signal processing function trigged by a remote control of the
file recording device 100. The file storage unit 106 includes a
mass recording medium such as a hard disk and a drive unit thereof
and stores still image files and moving image files. The medium
access unit 107 accesses a recording medium 300 to read out still
image files or moving image files stored therein. For the recording
medium 300, there are an SD memory card, a CompactFlash, and the
like.
The image playback unit 108 plays back the still image files or
moving image files recorded in the file storage unit 106 and
outputs a playback signal to an external display device 400, such
as a television set, through the display I/F unit 109.
<Medium Batch Differential Copy>
A medium batch differential copy refers to a process of
collectively copying image files stored in the recording medium 300
to the file recording device 100, in which all image files stored
in the recording medium 300 are not copied but only those files
(differential) that have not been stored in a copy destination.
Particularly, in the present embodiment, when a medium batch
differential copy is performed, information about date and time on
which the medium batch differential copy is completed is recorded
in the recording medium 300. Specifically, copy completion date and
time information is stored in a predetermined folder in the
recording medium 300. For example, in the case where the recording
medium 300 has the folder configuration shown in FIG. 3, when a
medium batch differential copy is performed, as shown in FIG. 7, a
batch differential copy management file storage folder
("DVD_RECORDER") 308 is provided under the ROOT folder 302 which is
a top-level folder in parallel with the folder tree 306 which is
subject to the medium batch differential copy. A batch differential
copy management file ("Store_manage") 309 indicating copy
completion date and time information is stored under the batch
differential copy management file storage folder 308. Note that in
the present embodiment a filename of the medium batch differential
copy management file 309 is set to "Store_manage", the batch
differential copy management file storage folder 308 is arranged
directly beneath the ROOT folder 302, and a folder name thereof is
set to "DVD_RECORDER".
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format of copy completion date and
time information to be recorded in the batch differential copy
management file 309. The copy completion date and time information
has the same format as that of the recording time field and
recording date field of the directory item 2001 shown in FIG. 5,
and respectively includes a 16-bit recording time field and a
16-bit recording date field. Bit assignments for the
time/minute/second of the recording time field and the
year/month/day of the date field are as shown in FIG. 8.
<Medium Batch Differential Copy Process>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a medium batch differential copy process
performed by the file recording device 100. This process is
implemented when the control unit 101 executes the control program
111. FIGS. 10A to 10D are diagrams showing a state transition of
the batch differential copy management file 309 and directory items
in the recording medium 300 along with the medium batch
differential copy process.
The medium batch differential copy process will be described below
with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10A to 10D.
Referring to FIG. 9, when the control unit 101 of the file
recording device 100 receives a medium batch differential copy
instruction (S11), the control unit 101 determines whether there is
a batch differential copy management file 309 in the recording
medium 300 (S12). Here, the medium batch differential copy
instruction may, for example, be generated automatically when the
medium access unit 107 detects insertion of the recording medium
300, or generated based on an operation for a copy instruction
performed by a user on the operation unit 105 (the same applies to
the following embodiments).
If there is no batch differential copy management file 309 in the
recording medium 300, it is determined that a medium batch
differential copy process has never been performed on the recording
medium 300. Thus, in this case, all files in the recording medium
300 are copied to the file storage unit 106 of the file recording
device 100 (S20). Then, a batch differential copy management file
309 containing data indicating copy completion date and time is
created and recorded in the recording medium 300 (S21).
FIG. 10A shows a state of the recording medium 300 for the case in
which a medium batch differential copy has not been performed. Two
image files 305a and 305b are stored and there are directory items
2001a and 2001b that respectively manage the image files 305a and
305b. Note that, in FIG. 10A, logical information of a filename
field (BP1 to BP8), an extension field (BP9 to BP11), and a time
information field (BP23 to BP26) in the directory item fields are
described in the directory items 2001a and 2001b. Since a medium
batch differential copy has never been performed, there is no batch
differential copy management file 309.
In the case shown in FIG. 10A, when the recording medium 300 has a
directory configuration such as that shown in FIG. 3, at the
above-described step S12, since there is no batch differential copy
management file storage folder named "DVD_RECORDER" under a ROOT
folder 302, it is determined that there is no batch differential
copy management file 309 (S12). Thus, all image files 305a and 305b
stored in the folder tree 306 which is subject to the medium batch
differential copy are copied to the file storage unit 106 of the
file recording device 100 (S20). After completion of the copy of
all image files, as shown in FIG. 7, a batch differential copy
management file storage folder 308 named "DVD_RECORDER" is created
under the ROOT folder 302, under which a batch differential copy
management file 309 with the filename "Store_manage" is created.
Then, copy completion date and time information is written in the
"Store_manage" file (S21).
When in the state shown in FIG. 10A the first medium batch
differential copy was completed on Jan. 1, 2005, 01:01:01, the
state transfers to a state shown in FIG. 10B. In the FIG. 10B, a
batch differential copy management file 309 is created, and the
medium batch copy completion date and time "Jan. 1, 2005, 01:01:01"
is recorded.
Returning to FIG. 9, if the batch differential copy management file
309 is already recorded in the recording medium 300 (S12), it is
determined that the medium batch differential copy process has been
performed at least once on the recording medium 300. Thus, in this
case, only those files in the recording medium 300 that have not
been copied to the file recording device 100 yet are copied to the
file recording device 100. For this purpose, the medium batch copy
completion date and time is compared with time stamps of the files
to be copied (hereinafter, this process is referred to as a "time
stamp check"). As a result of the time stamp check, only those
files with time stamps newer than the medium batch copy completion
date and time are copied to the file recording device 100. Such a
time stamp check and a copy process are performed on all image
files which are candidates for the copy. In the present embodiment,
as a time stamp, time information written in the time information
field (BP23 to BP26) of the directory item 2001 is used.
More specifically, the copy completion date and time information in
the batch differential copy management file 309 is read out from
the recording medium 300 (S13). Subsequently, by referring to FAT
information in the recording medium 300, a time stamp (recording
time and recording date) of the first file is read out (S14). Then,
the copy completion date and time indicated by the batch
differential copy management file 309 is compared with the time
stamp of the file (S15).
If the recording date and time indicated by the time stamp of the
file is later than the copy completion date and time, it can be
determined that the file is one added to the recording medium 300
after the last copy from the recording medium 300 to the file
recording device 100 and one that has not been copied to the file
recording device 100 yet. Accordingly, the file is copied to the
file storage unit 106 of the file recording device 100 (S16).
On the other hand, if the recording date and time indicated by the
time stamp of the file is the same as or earlier than the copy
completion date and time, it can be determined that the file is one
that has already been copied to the file recording device 100.
Thus, the file is not copied.
Determination is made on whether all files in the recording medium
300 have been processed (S17), and if there still remain files that
should be processed, recording date and time information on the
next file is read out (S19) and the above-described process is
repeated (S15 to S17). As described above, the differential copy is
performed by comparing the copy completion date and time indicated
by the batch differential copy management file 309 with the time
stamp of the file and determining whether the file is not copied
yet.
If all files in the recording medium 300 have been processed,
finally, the copy completion date and time information in the batch
differential copy management file 309 is updated (S18) and the
process ends.
In the state as shown in FIG. 10B which is the state after the
first medium batch differential copy, when an image file 305c is
further created on Jan. 15, 2005, 01:01:01, the state shifts to a
state shown in FIG. 10C. In FIG. 10C, a directory item 2001c for
the image file 305c is added and the corresponding filename (with
an extension) and creation date and time (Jan. 15, 2005, 01:01:01)
are written. When a medium batch differential copy is performed
from the recording medium 300 having the folder/file configuration
shown in FIG. 10C, since there is a batch differential copy
management file 309 named "Store_manage" in the batch differential
copy management file storage folder 308 named "DVD_RECORDER" under
the ROOT folder 302, content thereof is read to obtain medium batch
copy completion time (Jan. 1, 2005, 01:01:01).
In the state of FIG. 10C, the medium batch copy completion date and
time is Jan. 1, 2005, 01:01:01 and the time stamps of the image
files 305a and 305b respectively show Sep. 3, 2004, 01:01:01 and
Sep. 6, 2004, 01:01:01 (2001a and 2001b) which are older than the
medium batch copy completion date and time. Thus the image files
305a and 305b are not targets for copy. On the other hand, the
image file 305c is created on Jan. 15, 2005 01:01:01 and a time
stamp is provided with that date (2001c) which is newer than the
medium batch copy completion date and time. Thus the image file
305c is copied. After completion of the copy, the copy completion
date and time information (Feb. 1, 2005, 01:01:01) is written in
the batch differential copy management file 309.
In the present embodiment, a batch differential copy management
file is stored in a recording medium which is a copy source. With
this configuration, even when there are a plurality of recording
media subject to a medium batch differential copy, information on
medium batch differential copy completion date and time can be
obtained from each recording medium which is a copy source upon
medium batch differential copy. Thus, there is an advantageous
effect that a file recording device does not need to manage storage
locations of batch differential copy management files for each
recording medium.
In addition, in the present embodiment, a determination as to
whether a copy of a file has been performed can be made only by
comparing information in a batch differential copy management file
stored in the recording medium 300 with creation date and time
information indicated by file attribute information. Thus, it is
enough to do checks only a number of times corresponding to the
number of files stored in the recording medium. Accordingly, the
number of times of checks can be significantly reduced over
conventional cases. Also, since information about file creation
date and time is obtained by referring to FAT information, there is
no need to open a file to read out information about file creation
date and time. Thus a high-speed process can be achieved. This is a
very important point for the file recording device 100 such as a
DVD recorder having a relatively low throughput.
<Process of File Input Device>
As described above, a batch differential copy management file is
recorded in the recording medium 300 by the file recording device
100. The file input device 50 of the present embodiment recognizes
whether there are backup copies of image files stored in the
recording medium 300, by referring to the batch differential copy
management file. A process of the file input device 50 for
implementing such a function will be described below with reference
to a flowchart of FIG. 11.
The process shown in the flowchart in FIG. 11 is performed by the
controller 21 when the file input device 50 shifts to a playback
mode or is powered on. In the process, the file input device 50
checks on image files recorded in the recording medium 300 to
determine whether the image files have been backed up to another
recording medium (e.g., a recording medium of the file recording
device 100) and stores the result of the determination.
In FIG. 11, the controller 21 of the file input device 50
determines whether there is a batch differential copy management
file 309 in the recording medium 300 (S31). If there is no batch
differential copy management file 309, the process ends.
If there is a batch differential copy management file 309 in the
recording medium 300, copy completion date and time information in
the batch differential copy management file 309 is read out from
the recording medium 300 (S32). Subsequently, by referring to FAT
information in the recording medium 300, a time stamp (recording
time and recording date) of the first file is read out (S33). Then,
the copy completion date and time indicated by the batch
differential copy management file 309 is compared with the time
stamp of the file (S34).
If the recording date and time indicated by the time stamp of the
file is later than the copy completion date and time, it can be
determined that the file is one added to the recording medium 300
after the files in the recording medium 300 are copied last time
and thus the file is one that has not been backed up. On the other
hand, if the recording date and time indicated by the time stamp of
the file is the same as or earlier than the copy completion date
and time, it is determined that the file has been backed up.
If the recording date and time indicated by the time stamp of the
file is the same as or earlier than the copy completion date and
time, information (hereinafter, referred to as a
"backup-done-flag") indicating that the file to be copied has been
backed up is written in the buffer memory 19 (S35). On the other
hand, if the recording date and time indicated by the time stamp of
the file is later than the copy completion date and time, the
process proceeds for a next file (S37).
It is determined whether all files in the recording medium 300 have
been checked whether there are backups thereof (S36) and if there
still remain files that should be processed, recording date and
time information on the next file is read out (S37) and the
above-described process is repeated (S34 to S36).
In the above-described manner, the file input device 50 determines
whether all image files recorded in the recording medium 300 have
been backed up and stores the results of the determination in the
buffer memory 19 with backup-done-flags.
When playing back an image file recorded in the recording medium
300, the file input device 50 refers to a corresponding
backup-done-flag stored in the buffer memory 19 and if the image
file of the playback image has been backed up, a mark (hereinafter,
referred to as a "backup-is-done mark") representing that a backup
is done is displayed together with the image. FIGS. 12A to 12C show
exemplary displays of the backup-is-done mark. FIG. 12A shows an
example in which a backup-is-done mark 71 is added to one image.
The backup-is-done mark 71 indicates that an image file
corresponding to the image shown in FIG. 12A has been backed up.
FIG. 12B shows an example in which one backup-is-done mark 71 is
displayed for a plurality of thumbnail images 61a to 61d. In this
example, the backup-is-done mark 71 indicates that image files
respectively corresponding to the four thumbnail images 61a to 61d
have been backed up. FIG. 12C shows an example in which the
backup-is-done marks 71 are added only to thumbnail images 61a and
61d among a plurality of thumbnail images 61a, 61b, . . . . In this
example, the backup-is-done marks 71 indicate that only image files
corresponding to the thumbnail images 61a and 61d have been backed
up.
The backup-done-flag recorded in the above-described manner can
also be used when deleting backed-up files. The controller 21 of
the file input device 50 can easily recognize whether each image
file recorded in the recording medium 300 has been backed up, by
referring to the backup-done-flags stored in the buffer memory
19.
FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing a deletion menu for deleting
all or some of image files recorded in the recording medium 300 in
the image input device 50. FIG. 13A shows a plurality of selection
items for identifying a file(s) to be deleted. When "ONLY BACKED-UP
FILES" is selected in FIG. 13A, the deletion menu shown in FIG. 13B
is displayed. FIG. 13B shows a plurality of selection items for
further identifying a file(s) to be deleted in all of backed-up
files. In the deletion menu in FIG. 13B, when "ALL FILES" is
selected, the controller 21 refers to the backup-done-flags to
identify image files to be deleted and deletes the image files. As
a result of referring to the backup-done-flags, when there are no
backed-up files and thus image files to be deleted cannot be found,
a deletion menu shown in FIG. 13C is displayed. When "SELECTION" is
selected in FIG. 13B, the controller 21 refers to the
backup-done-flags to identify candidates for image files to be
deleted, displays the candidates on the LCD monitor 25, and waits
for user's instruction. When image files to be deleted are
individually designated by the user, the controller 21 deletes the
designated image files.
As described above, use of the backup-done-flag allows
identification of backed-up image files to be easily and quickly
implemented. With this configuration, upon playing back image
files, information indicating that the image files have been backed
up can be easily displayed, and simplification of a process is
achieved also in deleting backup files.
Second Embodiment
In the present embodiment, a configuration will be described in
which, even when a medium batch differential copy is performed from
one recording medium by each of a plurality of file recording
devices, the differential copy can be properly performed for each
file recording device. For this purpose, each of a plurality of
file recording devices stores "medium batch copy completion date
and time" in a batch differential copy management file 309 which
corresponds to each device, in a recording medium 300 which is a
copy source. Each file recording device performs a medium batch
differential copy by referring to the corresponding "medium batch
copy completion date and time".
A determination by a time stamp check as to whether an image file
has been copied or not is the same as that in the first embodiment.
A difference from the first embodiment is that a batch differential
copy management file 309 is stored or referred to in a format that
allows identifying of a file recording device that has created and
updated the batch differential copy management file 309.
<System Configuration>
A configuration of the present embodiment will be described below
with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second
embodiment of a file recording device of the present invention. In
a file recording device 120 shown in FIG. 14, components having
functions similar to those of the file recording device 100 shown
in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The file recording device 120 of the present embodiment is
different from the file recording device 100 of the first
embodiment in that information for identifying a file recording
device that has created or updated a batch differential copy
management file 309 is recorded in the batch differential copy
management file 309. In the present embodiment, a device ID which
is a code unique to each file recording device is used as
information for identifying a file recording device. Specifically,
a device ID is included in a filename of a batch differential copy
management file 309. A control program 121 of the file recording
device 120 of the present embodiment complies with such a file
naming rule.
A device ID 122 is stored in an EEPROM 103 upon manufacturing the
file recording device 120. For a code that can be used as the
device ID 122, there is a manufacturing serial number, and in the
present embodiment a manufacturing serial number made up of a
5-digit number is used.
FIG. 15 is a diagram describing a concept of a medium batch
differential copy performed by two file recording devices 120a and
120b. The file recording device 120a stores, as a device ID 122a, a
manufacturing serial number "00001" assigned to the file recording
device 120a. The file recording device 120b stores, as a device ID
122b, a manufacturing serial number "00002" assigned to the file
recording device 120b.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a folder/file configuration after the
first medium batch differential copy is performed on the
folder/file configuration 301 shown in FIG. 3 by the file recording
device 120a of the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing,
"Store_manage.sub.--00001" 322a is added as a batch differential
copy management file for the file recording device 120a. Note that
in a folder/file configuration 320 the same components as those in
the folder/file configuration 301 shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by
the same reference numerals.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a folder/file configuration after the
first medium batch differential copy is further performed by the
file recording device 120b of the present embodiment on the
folder/file configuration 320 shown in FIG. 16. As shown in the
drawing, "Store_manage.sub.--00002" 322b is added as a batch
differential copy management file for the file recording device
120b. As such, in the present embodiment, the batch differential
copy management files 322a and 322b are provided for the respective
file recording devices.
Naming/storage rules for a batch differential copy management file
in the present embodiment will be described. The naming/storage
rules are as follows.
1) A batch differential copy management file is a combination of
the character string "Store_manage_" and a device ID 122 of a
device. For example, when the device ID 122 is "00001", a batch
differential copy management file of the device is named
"Store_manage.sub.--00001".
2) The batch differential copy management files 322a and 322b are
stored in a "DVD_RECORDER" folder 308 under a ROOT folder 302.
3) Upon performing a medium batch differential copy by a certain
device, when there is no "DVD_RECORDER" folder 308 or no batch
differential copy management file 309 for the device, a
"DVD_RECORDER" folder 308 and a batch differential copy management
file for the device are created upon completion of the medium batch
differential copy.
The file recording device 120 can identify, according to the
above-described rules and based on a device ID 122 thereof, a
filename of a medium batch differential copy management file 309
for itself and a storage folder in the recording medium 300 and
read out the batch differential copy management file 309 thereof
from the recording medium 300.
Note that in the present embodiment the format of a medium batch
differential copy management file is the same as that of a time
stamp in a file management information table in the recording
medium 300 similar to the first embodiment (see FIG. 8).
<Medium Batch Differential Copy Process>
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a flow of a medium batch
differential copy process in the present embodiment. With reference
to the drawing, a medium batch differential copy process by the
file recording device 120 of the present embodiment will be
described below. Note that the following describes the case in
which a medium batch differential copy is performed from the
recording medium 300 to a certain file recording device
(hereinafter, referred to as the "target device") 120.
When a control unit 101 of the target device 120 receives a medium
batch differential copy instruction with the recording medium 300
being inserted into a medium access unit 107 of the target device
120 (S51), the control unit 101 reads out a device ID thereof
(target device) and identifies a filename of a batch differential
copy management file for the device (S52).
Subsequently, it is determined whether there is the batch
differential copy management file for the target device 120 in the
recording medium 300 (S53).
If there is no batch differential copy management file for the
target device 120 in the recording medium 300, it is determined
that a medium batch differential copy process by the target device
120 has never been performed on the recording medium 300. Thus, in
this case, all files in the recording medium 300 are copied to a
file storage unit 106 of the target device (S60).
Then, a batch differential copy management file that contains data
indicating copy completion time is created and recorded in the
recording medium 300 (S61).
On the other hand, if the batch differential copy management file
309 for the target device 120 is already recorded in the recording
medium 300 (S53), it is determined that a medium batch differential
copy process has been performed by the target device 120 at least
once on the recording medium 300. Thus, in this case, only those
files in the recording medium 300 that have not been copied are
copied to the target device 120.
For this purpose, copy completion date and time information in the
batch differential copy management file for the target device 120
is read out from the recording medium 300 (S54). Subsequently, by
referring to FAT information in the recording medium 300, a time
stamp (recording time and recording date) of the first file is read
out (S55). Then, copy completion date and time indicated by the
batch differential copy management file is compared with the time
stamp of the file (S56).
If the recording date and time indicated by the time stamp of the
file is later than the copy completion date and time, it can be
determined that the file is one added to the recording medium 300
after the last copy from the recording medium 300 to the target
device 120 and thus the file is one that has not been copied to the
target device 120a yet. Accordingly, the file is copied to the file
storage unit 106 of the target device 120 (S57).
On the other hand, if the recording date and time indicated by the
time stamp of the file is the same as or earlier than the copy
completion date and time, it can be determined that the file is one
that has already been copied to the target device 120. Thus, the
file is not copied.
It is determined whether all files in the recording medium 300 have
been processed (S58). If there still remain files that should be
processed, recording date and time information on a next file is
read out (S62) and the above-described process is repeated (S56 to
S58).
When all files in the recording medium 300 are processed, finally,
the copy completion date and time information in the batch
differential copy management file for the target device 120 is
updated (S59) and the process ends.
Referring to the above-described flow, specific examples of the
medium batch differential copy process will be described below for
each of the "case in which a medium batch differential copy from
the recording medium 300 to a target device has not been performed"
and the "case in which a medium batch differential copy from the
recording medium 300 to a target device has already been
performed".
(1) The Case in which a Medium Batch Differential Copy from a
Recoding Medium to a Target Device has not been Performed
The present case is further divided into:
i) a subcase in which a medium batch differential copy has never
been performed even to another file recording device; and
ii) a subcase in which a medium batch differential copy has been
performed to another file recording device.
i) The Subcase in which a Medium Batch Differential Copy has Never
been Performed Even to Another File Recording Device
A folder/file configuration of the recording medium 300 in which a
medium batch differential copy has never been performed by any file
recording device is the configuration 301 shown in FIG. 3. Here,
assuming that the target device is the file recording device 120a
shown in FIG. 15, since a device ID thereof is "00001", a filename
of a batch differential copy management file for the target device
120a is "Store_manage.sub.--00001" (S52). That is, the
"Store_manage.sub.--00001" file under the "DVD_RECORDER" folder
under the ROOT folder 302 is the batch differential copy management
file for the target device 120a.
Since in the folder/file configuration 301 shown in FIG. 3 there is
no "DVD_RECORDER" folder, it is determined that there is also no
"Store_manage.sub.--00001" file (S53) and thus the image files 305a
and 305b stored in the medium batch differential copy target folder
tree 306 are unconditionally copied to the file storage unit 106a
of the target device 120a (S60).
After completion of the copy, a batch differential copy management
file storage folder 308 named "DVD_RECORDER" is created under the
ROOT folder 302, and a batch differential copy management file 309
with the filename "Store_manage.sub.--00001" (S61) is crated and
updated under the batch differential copy management file storage
folder 308 (S61). After such a process, the folder/file
configuration turns to the configuration 320 shown in FIG. 16.
ii) The Subcase in which a Medium Batch Differential Copy has been
Performed to Another File Recording Device
It is assumed that the target device is the file recording device
120b shown in FIG. 15 and the other file recording device is the
file recording device 120a. A folder/file configuration of the
recording medium 300 in which a medium batch differential copy has
been performed by the other file recording device 120a is the
configuration 320 such as that shown in FIG. 16.
Since a device ID of the target device 120b is "00002", a filename
of a batch differential copy management file for the device 120b is
"Store_manage.sub.--00002". That is, the file
"Store_manage.sub.--00002" under the "DVD_RECORDER" folder under
the ROOT folder 302 is the batch differential copy management file
for the target device 120b (S52).
Although there is a "DVD_RECORDER" folder in the folder/file
configuration 320 shown in FIG. 16, there is no
"Store_manage.sub.--00002" file under the "DVD RECORDER" folder
(S53). Thus, the image files 305a and 305b stored in the folder
tree 306 which is a target for the medium batch differential copy
are unconditionally copied to the file storage unit 106b (S60).
After completion of the copy, a batch differential copy management
file with the filename "Store_manage.sub.--00002" is created and
updated under the "DVD_RECORDER" folder (S61). After such a
process, the folder/file configuration turns to the configuration
323 shown in FIG. 17.
(2) The Case in which a Medium Batch Differential Copy from a
Recording Medium to a Target Device has Already been Performed
The case will be considered in which the target device is the file
recording device 120a shown in FIG. 15 and a folder/file
configuration of the recording medium 300 in which a medium batch
differential copy by the target device 120a has been performed is
the configuration 323 shown in FIG. 17. Since a device ID of the
target device 120a is "00001", a filename of a batch differential
copy management file for the target device 120a is
"Store_manage.sub.--00001" (S52). That is, the file
"Store_manage.sub.--00001" under the "DVD_RECORDER" folder under
the ROOT folder 302 is the batch differential copy management file
for the target device 120a.
Since in the folder/file configuration 323 there is already a
"Store_manage.sub.--00001" file 322a under the "DVD_RECORDER"
folder 308, copy completion date and time is read out therefrom
(S54), a time stamp check is performed (S56), and a copy is
performed (S57). After completion of the copy, the batch
differential copy management file "Store_manage.sub.--00001" is
updated (S59).
As such, in the present embodiment, in the recording medium 300, a
batch differential copy management file is recorded for each file
recording device. With this configuration, even when the recording
medium 300 is accessed from a plurality of file recording devices,
each file recording device can read out the associating batch
differential copy management file for the device from the recording
medium 300, and thus can properly implement a medium batch
differential copy from the recording medium 300 to a file storage
unit of the device according to the current copy state.
Third Embodiment
Although in the second embodiment a device ID is used as
information identifying a file recording device, in the present
embodiment a unique code assigned to a communication means of a
file recording device or a code derived from the unique code is
used.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third
embodiment of a file recording device of the present invention. In
a file recording device 130 shown in FIG. 19, components having the
same functions and configurations as those of the file recording
device 120 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 14 are denoted by
the same reference numerals.
The file recording device 130 of the present embodiment further
includes a communicating unit 131, such as a network card, that
performs communication with Ethernet 401. The communicating unit
131 stores a uniquely assigned MAC address 132 which is an
identifier for the communicating unit 131. In the file recording
device 130 of the present embodiment, a device ID 122 does not
particularly need to be stored in an EEPROM 103.
In addition, in a filename of a batch differential copy management
file, a control program 133 of the present embodiment identifies
the filename of the batch differential copy management file, using
the MAC address 132 stored in the communicating unit 131 instead of
a device ID, and performs a data read/write/update process on the
batch differential copy management file.
Unlike a device ID, the MAC address 132 is pre-installed in the
communicating unit 131 and thus a process for storing the MAC
address 132 does not need to be performed upon manufacturing the
file recording device 130. Note that the MAC address is a
world-wide unique ID code with 6 bytes and is generally used as an
identifier for a network card.
FIG. 20 is a diagram explaining a concept of a medium batch
differential copy by two file recording devices 130a and 130b. The
file recording device 130a has a MAC address 132a with the value
"0123456789AB (hexadecimal notation)" and the file recording device
130b has a MAC address 132b with the value "CDEF01234567
(hexadecimal notation)".
Here, a filename of a batch differential copy management file in
the present embodiment is a combination of the character string
"Store_manage_" and a "character string obtained by converting a
MAC address 132 of a device to character codes". For example, when
the MAC address is "0123456789AB", the character string
"0123456789AB" obtained by converting hexadecimal value of
"0123456789AB" to ASCII codes is used as a filename. In this case,
a filename of a batch differential copy management file is
"Store_manage.sub.--0123456789AB".
Note that storage rules for a batch differential copy management
file in the present embodiment are the same as those in the second
embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a folder/file configuration after a
medium batch differential copy is performed in the recording medium
300 by the file recording devices 130a and 130b. A
"Store_manage.sub.--0123456789AB" file 332a which is a batch
differential copy management file for the file recording device
130a and a "Store_manage_CDEF01234567" file 332b which is a batch
differential copy management file for the file recording device
130b are created.
Note that a medium batch differential copy in the present
embodiment is the same as that in the second embodiment except that
a naming rule for a filename of a batch differential copy
management file is different.
Although in the present embodiment, instead of a device ID, a MAC
address which is an identifier for a network card stored in the
communicating unit 131 is used as a filename of a batch
differential copy management file, a network object identifier
having world-wide uniqueness like a MAC address may be used by, for
example, incorporating a MAC address into part of numerical values.
As a network object identifier, there is a UUID (Universally Unique
IDentifier) defined by DCE (Distributed Computing Environment)
standard of the OSF (Open Software Foundation).
Note that although in the present embodiment a unique code included
in the communicating unit 131 is directly included in a batch
differential copy management file, the unique code may be encoded
and then included in a batch differential copy management file.
Fourth Embodiment
The aforementioned embodiments describe an example (medium batch
differential copy) in which a differential copy is performed on all
files in the recording medium 300. In the present embodiment, an
example will be described in which a differential copy is performed
on only those files stored in a designated folder. Hereinafter,
such a batch differential copy performed on a folder-by-folder
basis is referred to as a "folder batch differential copy".
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fourth
embodiment of a file recording device of the present invention. In
a file recording device 140 shown in FIG. 22, components having the
same functions as those of the file recording device 120 shown in
FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The control program 141 of the file recording device 140 of the
present embodiment implements a function of a folder batch
differential copy process in addition to a function of a medium
batch differential copy process to be performed by the control
program 121 in the second embodiment. Note that the control program
141 may implement only the function of the folder batch
differential copy process. The file recording device 140 has
"00001" as a device ID 122.
FIG. 23 shows a folder/file configuration before a folder batch
differential copy by the file recording device 140 of the present
embodiment is performed. In a folder/file configuration 340 shown
in the drawing, there are a USER1 folder 341 and an image file 342
stored in the USER1 folder 341 in addition to a DCIM folder 303 and
a DVD_RECORDER folder 308. Here, the USER1 folder 341 is a target
folder for a batch differential copy on a folder-by-folder
basis.
Note that a filename of a target folder for a folder batch
differential copy can be set to any filename as long as the
filename is different from those of the top folder 303 and the
batch differential copy management file storage folder 308 under an
image file storage folder tree 306. In the present embodiment, it
is named "USER1".
FIG. 24 shows a folder/file configuration after a folder batch
differential copy is performed by the file recording device 140. A
folder batch differential copy management file 343 is added to the
folder/file configuration shown in FIG. 23. The folder batch
differential copy management file 343 contains copy completion date
and time data having the same format as that of the medium batch
differential copy completion data and time data. Also, a naming
rule for a filename of the folder batch differential copy
management file 343 is the same as that in the second embodiment.
Since in the example of FIG. 24 the folder batch differential copy
is performed by the file recording device 140 with the device ID
"00001", a filename of the folder batch differential copy
management file 343 is "Store_manage.sub.--00001". The file
recording device 140 records the completion time of a folder batch
copy performed on the USER1 folder as folder batch differential
copy completion time data. Note that there is no problem even if
the naming rule for the filename of the folder batch differential
copy management file 343 is made different from that in the second
embodiment.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an overall batch differential copy
process of the present embodiment. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a
folder batch differential copy process.
First, the overall batch differential copy process in the file
recording device 140 will be described. Storage/naming rules for
the batch differential copy management file in the present
embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment.
Note that in the present embodiment the medium batch differential
copy is done for the DCIM folder or folders under the DCIM folder.
The folder batch differential copy is done for all folders other
than the DCIM folder, the folders under the DCIM folder, and the
DVD_RECORDER folder which is the batch differential copy management
file storage folder 308.
When a recording medium 300 having the folder/file configuration
340 shown in FIG. 23 is inserted into the medium access unit 107,
the file recording device 140 detects the medium insertion and
starts a copy process. The copy process will be described below
with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 25.
In FIG. 25, when the control unit 101 of the file recording device
100 receives a batch differential copy instruction, if the batch
differential copy instruction indicates a "medium batch
differential copy" (S72), a batch differential copy process is
performed (S73). Specific process of the medium batch differential
copy is as described above and thus a detailed description thereof
is omitted here. Note that the batch differential copy instruction
is, for example, issued based on an operation on the operation unit
105 by a user, or issued by the medium access unit 107 detecting
insertion of the recording medium 300.
On the other hand, if the batch differential copy instruction
indicates a "folder batch differential copy" (S74), the control
unit 101 checks whether there are folders that can be targets for
the batch differential copy, i.e., there are the other folders than
the DCIM folder, folders under the DCIM folder, and the
DVD_RECORDER folder (S75), in the folders of the recording medium
300. If there is no folder that can be a target for the batch
differential copy, the control unit 101 waits for a further batch
differential copy instruction. In the example of FIG. 24, there is
a USER1 folder 341 other than "the DCIM folder, folders under the
DCIM folder, and the DVD_RECORDER folder". Thus it is determined
that there is a folder that can be a target for the batch
differential copy.
If there is a folder that can be a target for the batch
differential copy, the control unit 101 identifies a folder on
which the batch differential copy is to be performed, based on
designation by the user (S76). The target folder for the batch
differential copy can be designated by the user through the
operation unit 105.
The folder batch differential copy process is performed on one
designated folder (S77). The folder batch differential copy process
is described in detail later. After completion of the folder batch
differential copy process on the one designated folder, it is
determined whether in the designated folders there are still other
folders on which the folder batch differential copy process has not
been performed (S78) and the above-described process is repeated
until the folder batch differential copy process is performed on
all folders of the designated folders (S76 to S78).
<Folder Batch Differential Copy>
The folder batch differential copy process (S77) is described in
detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 26. A batch
differential copy management file to be referred to upon time stamp
check for the folder batch differential copy is stored in a target
folder for a folder batch differential copy.
First, a filename of the batch differential copy management file
for the file recording device 140 that performs a copy is
identified (S91). As described above, the device ID 122 of the file
recording device 140 is "00001" and thus the batch copy management
file is named "Store_manage.sub.--00001" under the designated
folder which is a copy source.
Subsequently, it is determined whether the identified batch
differential copy management file is in the designated folder in
the recording medium 300 (S92). If the identified batch
differential copy management file is not in the designated folder
in the recording medium 300, all files in the designated folder are
copied to the file storage unit 106 (S99). In an example of FIG.
23, since there is no "Store_manage.sub.--00001" file under the
USER1 folder 341, an image file 342 stored in the USER1 folder 341
is unconditionally copied to the file storage unit 106 (S99)
After completion of the copy, a batch differential copy management
file is created in the folder on which the folder batch
differential copy is performed, and then is updated with copy
completion date and time written therein (S100). In the example of
FIG. 23, a "Store_manage.sub.--00001" file is created under the
USER1 folder 341 and then is updated with copy completion date and
time written therein. The folder/file configuration is changed, by
the folder batch copy process, from the configuration 340 shown in
FIG. 23 to the configuration 344 shown in FIG. 24.
On the other hand, if the identified batch differential copy
management file is in the designated folder in the recording medium
300, the copy completion date and time information in the batch
differential copy management file is read out (S93). Subsequently,
a time stamp of the first file in the designated folder in the
recording medium 300 is read out (S94). Then, the copy completion
date and time indicated by the batch differential copy management
file is compared with the time stamp of the file (S95).
If the recording date and time indicated by the time stamp of the
file is later than the copy completion date and time, the file is
copied to the file storage unit 106 of the file recording device
140 (S96). On the other hand, if the recording date and time
indicated by the time stamp of the file is equal to or earlier than
the copy completion date and time, the file is not copied because
it can be determined that the file is one that has already been
copied to the file recording device 140.
It is determined whether all files in the designated folder have
been processed (S97) and if there still remain files that should be
processed, a time stamp of the next file is read out (S101) and the
above-described process is repeated (S95 to S97).
When all files in the designated folder have been processed, the
batch differential copy management file corresponding to the file
recording device 140 and associated with the designated folder is
updated (S98) and the process ends.
In the present embodiment, the copy completion date and time of a
file under a target folder for the folder batch differential copy
is stored and referred to, as a file (hereinafter, referred to as a
"folder batch differential copy management file") independent of a
batch differential copy management file (hereinafter, referred to
as a "medium batch differential copy management file") for the
medium batch differential copy. This configuration provides an
advantageous effect in that dubbing can be performed again to the
file recording device as long as a file which is created or updated
earlier than the medium batch differential copy completion time is
stored in a target folder for the folder batch differential
copy.
Note that although in the present embodiment the USER1 folder is a
target for the folder batch differential copy, an image file put
under the ROOT directory may be a target for the folder batch
differential copy.
Note that in the present embodiment a medium batch differential
copy and a naming rule may be the same as those in the first or
third embodiment.
Note also that in the present embodiment folder batch differential
copy completion date and time data is stored in a designated folder
which is a copy source, but may be stored in a folder under the
designated folder which is the copy source. Alternatively, a folder
batch differential copy management file may be stored in the same
folder as the one in which a medium batch differential copy
management file is stored. In this case, a filename of the folder
batch differential copy management file needs to be named the
different name from that of the medium batch differential copy
management file. For example, the filename may be named
"Store_manage_user".
Note also that in the present embodiment the format of the folder
batch differential copy management file is the same as that of
file/time stamp information in file management information in the
recording medium 300. However the format of the folder batch
differential copy management file may be the same as that of time
stamp information to be written in an image information storage
area of an image file. In this case, a time stamp check may be
performed using time stamp information read from a time stamp field
of an image information storage area of an image file which is a
candidate for a copy.
Note also that in the present embodiment a type of file to be
copied may be designated. For example, only a file having a
filename containing character string designated by a user or a file
having a designated extension may be a copy target.
Variations
(1) The first to fourth embodiments show the case in which in the
file management information there is only one piece of date and
time information which is used as time stamp in the time stamp
check, for each file. When there are plural pieces of date and time
information for one file, the latest time information among the
pieces of date and time information may be used as time stamp.
(2) FIG. 27 shows an example of a format for the case in which in
file management information there are two types of date and time
information for one file. FIG. 27 shows a configuration of a
directory item 2101 which is file management information in a FAT16
file system or a FAT32 file system. In FIG. 27, unlike the format
shown in FIG. 5, a part of the reserved area (BP13 to BP22) which
is undefined area in the standard is used as a file date and time
information field (BP15 to BP18).
By referring to the two types of date and time information, two
kinds of date and time, "creation date and time" and "update date
and time", can be handled. Here, some apparatuses for writing a
file in a recording medium 300 may handle the above-described two
kinds of date and time information fields differently. One
apparatus may handle the date and time on which a file is copied to
the recording medium 300 as "creation date and time", while the
other apparatus may handle them as "update date and time". In
addition, one apparatus may write "creation date and time" in a
file time information field (BP23 to BP26) which is defined by the
standard, while the other apparatus may write them in a part of the
Reserve area as the file time information field (BP15 to BP18). In
either case, the last date and time on which any operation such as
editing is performed on a file is the newer one of the two pieces
of date and time information. Thus a differential copy can be
performed without omission by using the newer one as a time stamp
of the file in a time stamp check. The same applies to the case in
which there are three or more pieces of time information for each
file.
(3) In the first to fourth embodiments, an image file may be JPEG
file according to Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format), and a
format of copy completion date and time data in the medium batch
differential copy management file and the folder batch differential
copy management file may be the same as that of recording date and
time information field defined in Exif. In this case, a time stamp
check is performed by comparing the copy completion date and time
of the copy management file with the recording date and time
information according to Exif for a JPEG file which is a candidate
for a copy. The Exif recording date and time information is not
changed even when editing such as image rotation or resizing is
performed on a JPEG file. Thus, even when editing is performed, a
differential copy can be properly implemented.
(4) In the first to third embodiments, image files which are
targets for the medium batch differential copy are limited to image
files in a target folder for the medium batch differential copy.
However, all image files in the recording medium may be targets for
the medium batch differential copy.
(5) In the first to third embodiments, all files under a folder
which is not a target for the medium batch differential copy may be
copied to the file recording device after the medium batch
differential copy is performed.
(6) In the first to fourth embodiments, the targets for the medium
batch differential copy or the folder batch differential copy are
image files (still images), but may be moving images or texts.
There are no restrictions on types of files to be copied.
(7) In the first to fourth embodiments the batch differential copy
management file storage folder is provided and the batch
differential copy management file is stored under the batch
differential copy management file storage folder. However, without
providing the batch differential copy management file storage
folder, the batch differential copy management file may be stored
under the ROOT folder.
(8) In the first to fourth embodiments, a copy target registration
list file may be stored in advance in a recording medium which is a
copy source, and the batch differential copy may be performed only
those files registered in the copy target registration list file.
The file recording device reads the copy target registration list
file before the batch differential copy, and performs the batch
differential copy on only those files registered therein. The copy
target registration list file includes AUTPLAY.MRK or AUIXFER.MRK
which are defined by DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)
standard.
(9) In the first to fourth embodiments, the batch differential copy
may be performed on only those files of which information written
in a file information storage area of the files satisfies a
predetermined condition. Before the time stamp check in the batch
differential copy, the file recording device may check, for each
file, whether information written in the file information storage
area satisfies the predetermined condition, and perform the
differential copy on only those files that satisfy the
predetermined condition. As the "information written in a file
information storage area", Exif information can be used.
(10) Although in the first to fourth embodiments a hard disk is
used as the file storage unit of the file recording device, the
file storage unit may be a rewritable optical disk such as a
DVD-RAM.
(11) In the first to fourth embodiments, information indicating
time and date, such as file creation date and time and copy
completion date and time, is used in the time stamp check. Instead
of such information, file serial numbers which are consecutively
provided to files may be used. The file serial number is a number
which is provided upon file creation to a file by an apparatus that
writes files in a recording medium by incrementing the number for
each file. Chronological relationship can be grasped by comparison
of file serial numbers. Thus, it can be determined whether a copy
is done or not by the following steps. When the batch differential
copy is completed, the highest file serial number among file serial
numbers of all copied files is stored in the copy management file.
In a subsequent time stamp check, the file serial number stored in
the copy management file is compared with a file serial number of a
copy target file.
More specifically, upon the batch differential copy, the file
recording device reads a file serial number of a copy target file
from the file management information, and writes the highest file
serial number among file serial numbers of copied files to the
"medium (folder) batch differential copy management file".
Thereafter, upon performing a medium (folder) batch differential
copy, the file recording device reads the file serial number from
the "medium (folder) batch differential copy management file", and
copies only those files having higher file serial numbers than the
read file serial number.
(12) The latest date and time among dates and times indicated by
date and time information on all files which are copied from the
recording medium 300 to the data storage unit 106 of the file
recording device may be used as copy management date and time
information in the batch differential copy management file. This is
because even when there is a difference in time of timer between
the file input device 50 and the file recording device 100, an
influence caused thereby can be eliminated, enabling more accurate
time stamp check.
(13) A batch differential copy management file may be recorded in a
file system. This configuration can prevent a batch differential
copy management file from being deleted or corrupted due to a
general user's misoperation.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention can be applied to a device that performs a
copy from a first recording medium string image data to a second
recording medium. For example, the present invention can be applied
to a batch copy of image files from a memory card storing image
files shot with a digital camera to a mass recording medium such as
a hard disk built in a DVD recorder. Also, the present invention
can be applied to the case, for example, of performing a copy from
a built-in memory in a digital camera or a mobile phone terminal
with a camera to a memory card.
* * * * *